Statistical review of the season

[scoopydoo]

Steve Newing’s View of our Ryman Premier debut season

 

I thought now that the season is over I would give the supporters my view as to the season as a whole.

At the start of the season way back on the 18^th August our initial aim was to ensure we were still in the division come the start of the 2013/14 campaign. Objective one was achieved. My second target to help achieve this goal was to win 14 games, we fell one short, but it was still enough to keep us up.

We ended up with some interesting stats to our name for a team that only ensured survival with three games to go. Of all the teams in the division only 9 sides scored more goals than us. Of all the bottom half teams’ only one side won more games than us. These are the positives.

The negatives are we had the second worst total of goals conceded and also the joint third worst goal difference.

I think a few interesting things come to light when you break the season down into chunks , you can do this into six chunks of seven games, three chunks of 14 games and also two halves of 21 games.

Looking at the first scenario breaking the season up into six segments, we had four of these where it was good enough to survive, but we also had two poor chunks that would have been relegation form.

We started well enough, a point a game from the first 7 matches. This was followed up with another 10 points from the next 7. In this sequence of games were the three matches that we lost 2-3 (against East Thurrock , Hastings and Lowestoft ) all of which we should have won if we had taken our chances and defended properly , we threw away winning positions in all games and lost all the games to late goals. Looking back we really should once having been pegged back with hindsight settled and seen out the games as draws rather than trying to get back in front again. We also had the away draw at Bognor here when we couldn’t really have done any more to win the game.

So after the first third of the season we had picked up 17 points and we were at that stage comfortably on track to survive. I also felt that we were playing some really good stuff at this stage on pitches that were still in very good condition that suited our football and positive approach.

The next 7 games which took us to the halfway point, with the defeat at Carshalton were the games that altered our style of play in the quest for survival. This 7 game batch over 30 days leading up to Xmas and into the new year saw us pick up 1 point scoring 6 and conceding 22 goals. We dropped into the bottom two at the end of these games and we were really at that point right in a relegation dogfight. Pitches had started to get heavier, playing surfaces weren’t the best (Wealdstone, Leiston, Whitehawk, East Thurrock and Carshalton away in these seven matches were the heaviest pitches we played on all season). We also made a lot of changes due to injury, suspension illness etc over this period which certainly didn’t help.

I remember the dressing room conversation after that defeat at Carshalton, which was all about 21 games to roll our sleeves up and keep the club up. To their credit the next 19 games till we became safe, the lads did what we asked on the whole.

The next seven matches ( Hastings, Bognor,Cray, Wealdstone,Met Police,Kingstonian and Lowestoft ) saw us pick up 11 points with only two narrow defeats and was the best period of games and displays that we put together over the whole season ( Bognor aside ) just when we needed it. What was most pleasing in this run of matches was as well as scoring 12 goals, we conceded only 5.

The next 7 matches where we won 3 and lost 4 was also pleasing on the whole, as aside from the two poor performances when beaten 3-0 by both Margate and Concord we were the better side in the three games we won 2-1 against Wingate, Lewes and Kingstonian, and also the better side in the two narrow defeats to Concord and Bury. It was this sequence of 14 matches that really got us into a position whereby we were nearly at the safety point. People will tell me that this was when we had Scott Mcgleish at the club and yes he played in 10 of these 14 games and his presence was certainly welcomed and uplifted all at the club, players and supporters at a key stage of the season, but to me it was an improvement in our overall defending and a change of approach and to the formation to make us more solid that was just as pivotal to our ultimate survival. Over these 14 games the fourth and fifth chunk of the season we won 6 drew 2 and lost 6 , scoring 19 goals and conceding 17 , given that we conceded 6 of that 17 in two poor displays , therein tells the story of our best run of 14 games across the campaign.

The final seven matches was all about keeping teams below us and getting across the line as soon as possible. This all started well at home to Leiston on bank holiday Monday and which with hindsight meant we had survived with six matches left as we hit 41 points that day. The other six matches Hendon aside were really disappointing and from my point of view were as poor as the 7 matches up to the half way point of the season. Reflecting as to why (these are not excuses as players should be able to adapt better to different circumstances) the hard bobbly pitches didn’t suit us and I also think I had a few players nearly running on empty, with knocks and niggles and as we still needed as we all thought at that stage more points to be safe for sure, I kept picking the same players over and over again as I was keen to play what I thought was the strongest team at the time.

 

If you cut the season in half after 21 games we had 18 points and were 21^st and had scored 32 and conceded 51, winning only 5 matches , although as mentioned earlier we really should have won more of these games when in the first 14 matches we were playing some really good attacking football. However we hadn’t and this failure to capitalise when playing well was magnified by that last seven games of the first half of the season where we picked up only 1 point.

We made a decision as a management team to alter our approach and style of play, be a little more cautious and have a more solid base in midfield especially and the outcome was a record of P 21, W 8 , D2 , L 11 scoring 28 , but most importantly conceding only 32 and picking up 26 points. When you consider we conceded in this period 3 goals in games twice and 4 goals in games twice, it meant in the other 17 matches in this period we conceded only 18 in 17 matches, which is a goal per game ratio of a play off team.

The final six matches where we picked up only 3 points were disappointing as I have stated and from my point of view a couple more wins in this period of which we were more than capable would have meant a points tally of a top half of the table side over the second part of the campaign.

 

In summary of the stats what is clear to me is that we improved as a side and as a management team and learnt as the season progressed. We went at it all guns blazing early on and it helped to a point but that final third of the first half of the season brought us back to reality and we adapted.

 

What also pleased me is when you look at league appearances for the season, Noel  37, Jordan 34, Bardle 37, Tyler 41, Hopey 33, Kirbs 38 , Gunz 38 , that is seven of the lads who got us promoted who have made up two thirds of the side for most of the season and to me it was only towards the end of the campaign that some of these players saw a dip in form. When you throw in Joe O Brien 34 appearances, Lee Allen 19, Kendall 21 and Jay 20 ( again mainly players who haven’t played a great deal if any at this level ) I think the lads have proved a lot of doubters wrong who thought they wouldn’t be able to cope. I added both Lee White 35 appearances and Hunty 30 appearances to the squad for experience of playing at this level and above and with also good contributions from Craig Mckay 17, Mark Henry 14 and Walid 19, the squad has also had quite a settled look to it.

 

My highlights include opening day victory and trip back at Lewes, away win at Canvey with Lee White in goal, the demolition of Hendon, three days after Del Deanus had passed away, what a way to remember him, the 5-1 thumping of Cray and the 4-0 home win against the Met ( a side I always seem to do well against , as a player and now a manager )  the 0-0 draw at Lowestoft and the 3-2 win at Hendon that secured safety.

Low points 6-0 drubbing at Whitehawk, the two poor back to back performances against Margate and Concord  both resulting in 3-0 defeats. The 3-2 defeat at Carshalton when we dropped into the bottom two. The 4-2 defensive shambles at both Hampton and then Harrow back to back in the last month of the campaign.

Would I have changed some of the highs and lows certainly, but we achieved our goal, with two months to go any of the bottom 8 teams could have gone and because of the weather we still had a third of the season to play, we realistically could only top this bottom 8 at this stage and in the end fell 1 short finishing 16^th. Mission accomplished for our first campaign.

 

Don’t forget the presentation evening at the club on Friday 31^st May.

 

Looking forward we will be back for pre season on June 22^nd, a week earlier than usual due the early start on August 10^th as this season will have 24 teams and four extra matches to play. I will be looking to add to the squad, finances permitting during the close season and have two or three definite targets in mind. The club needs to operate within its means which will mean tweaking here and there as we go and I think each season I have been here the playing squad has got stronger and stronger. This needs to continue to ensure we can compete again and improve next season.

Thanks

Steve.                       

  

 

 

[townerboy]

very detailed!!!

[CD Towner]

Over detailed if you ask me! At the end of the day, you finish the league season where you deserve to. If we as supporters or Steve are not happy about the league position and performances - do something about it rather than provide a detailed analysis that effectively is excuse-making.

 

Whilst i'm sure the overall aim was to stay in the division at the start of the season primarily, i dont recall this ever being articulated from the start. It appears that this was only spoken of by the management as an excuse once we got ourselves into a relegation battle.

 

In my opinion, we threw away many points and results through poor decisions/play from both management and players we underachieved in the end this season.

 

Having said that, we are in the Ryman Premier League next season and can go again, but what is the measure of success next season - survival, mid table, play offs, cup run? And is the current management/players up to the task???

[big guy]

at the start of the season at the members meeting steve said he would take 20th in the league now our aim was to stay in the prem and not go down in the first season the team did itthey must now look ahead and aim for higher as said befor we can only play with what the budget allows us to .................unles someone pumps millions into the club,  we will just have what the budget is .So well done steve and all the team for keeping us in the prem

[OldTowner]

There are ways to increase the budget...but this involves ALL of our supporters being more involved than just attending games.

 

The use of Butler's Bar, attending social events, becoming a Member, sponsorship etc etc are just a few and would all assist.

 

We are a Supporters run Club and the only way to raise cash, is via that route.

[StoneCold]

We all knew at the start of the season the aim was to survive in this division and ensure we stay in the league for more than one season...job done.

 

The measure of success for next season will be to improve on our position this season and continue to grow at this level. I would happily take a mid table - top half finish for next season as this would be an improvement. A nice cup run would be very beneficial but then you look at Hastings who enjoyed a good cup run and look where they finished!!

 

The short term goal for the next season and season after would be to finish in a higher position than the previous season, if we can achieve this then in 3 seasons time we should be strong enough to be challenging for promotion. Look at Lowestoft & Concord, they have gradually improved season after season, something that we must look at.

[Enfield United]

I too remember at the pre season members meeting Steve saying quite clearly we would have some good days and some very dark days, it is the dark days we need to stick together and get through making sure we are still in good shape for some good ones.

 

AND HOW RIGHT WAS HE? Answer=Spot On.

 

He also stated that our budget puts us amongst the Harrows, Crays, Wingates and Hastings of the league=Right Again and thank goodness it was closer to Harrow than Hastings.

 

He managed the season to the strengths of the club in budget and players he could get. His statistics or as I call them Facts are very relevant as it showed where we got our points from i.e Wingate and Lewes early doors and Harrow and Hendon a little later, established clubs we can now say we are on a par with if not slightly ahead of now.

 

Hopefully next season will produce better statistics, but as one fan/member which I am i'm i'd say it was a successfully completed season with objectives completed. Well Done the coaching staff and in particular the manager.

[andyetfc]

Very easy to bring statistics into any equation. The biggest statistic is that the current squad finished 16th and just four points away from being relegated. The table shows we were not good enough to finish any higher and need to improve next season. Yes, we have stayed in the division, which was an objective, but the football at times has left a lot to be desired. Here's hoping on improvements all round next season.

[Steph]

Good post Andy